Share a comment

What do you do when the fallout from your choices feels unbearable? We walk with Asaph through Psalms 79–81 and find a clear path forward: own the consequences without excuses, cry out for compassion with honest humility, and rediscover joy through worship that remembers God’s faithfulness. The backdrop is grim—Babylon has burned the temple, the sacrificial system has collapsed, and the nation sits in ruins—yet the songs refuse despair. Asaph models a posture that says, “How long, O Lord?” while still giving thanks, proving that gratitude is not the reward for better circumstances but the practice that strengthens trust.

From there, we widen the lens in Psalm 80 as Asaph prays for a divided people to be restored. He doesn’t ask God to vindicate one side; he pleads, “restore us,” inviting reconciliation between Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin. It’s a masterclass in intercession for modern fractures—families at odds, churches in conflict, teams split by rivalry. You cannot hate someone you faithfully pray for, and you cannot keep gossiping while asking God to bless them. Unity forms where humility meets persistent prayer.

Finally, Psalm 81 calls us to loud, embodied worship: sing, play, remember. God’s rescue from Egypt becomes the template for hope now, and the warning against “strange gods” confronts today’s subtler idols—success, image, control—that crowd the heart. When God sits at the center, joy returns, not as denial of pain but as defiance of despair. If you’re carrying the sting of consequences, this conversation offers a roadmap and a lifeline: repentance that is specific, intercession that includes your adversaries, and worship that anchors you in a faithful God. If it encouraged you, share it with a friend, subscribe for more, and leave a review to help others find the journey.

The first of Stephen's two volumes set through the Book of Revelation is now available. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FQ3XCJMY

Support the show

Share a comment

A single footprint in the sand can change everything. We open with a milestone: The Wisdom Journey is launching on satellite TV in Arabic, bringing verse-by-verse Bible teaching to millions across the Arabic-speaking world. That global step sets the stage for a message drawn from Psalm 77 and Psalm 78—where God’s hidden footprints meet a very public assignment to pass on truth.

We sit with Asaph’s poetry in Psalm 77, tracing how God moves through storms and seas in ways we cannot fully see, yet cannot miss. The imagery is vivid: thunder, lightning, waves, and a way through the waters that leaves no trace but rescue. From there, we turn to Psalm 78, which reads like a relay race—fathers to children, children yet unborn to their children—so the story of God’s mighty works does not fade. We share a simple framework anyone can use, whether you are a parent, mentor, teacher, or friend: help the next generation know who God is, train them to think biblically, and show them how to live wisely.

You will hear real questions kids ask—about the Trinity, grief, justice, and angels—that prove young hearts think deeply about God and life. We talk about forming minds that love Scripture, not with clichés, but with clear categories and honest engagement. Wisdom then moves from knowledge to practice, warning us not to copy the stubbornness of past generations but to choose obedience that builds a faithful life. Along the way, we connect the dots between local discipleship and global mission, inviting you to pray for and support the Arabic broadcast so truth keeps moving from heart to heart and home to home.

If this conversation encourages you, subscribe, share it with a friend who is investing in the next generation, and leave a review to help others find the show. Have a story of God’s faithfulness you are passing on? Tell us—we’d love to hear it.

The first of Stephen's two volumes set through the Book of Revelation is now available. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FQ3XCJMY

Support the show

Share a comment

What do you do when the fallout from your choices lingers and the path ahead feels slow and heavy? We walk through Psalms 74–76 to trace a hopeful arc: from the ashes of Jerusalem’s temple and Asaph’s aching how long, to God’s set time of judgment, to a stunning rescue that left an empire’s army silent. Along the way, we grapple with a hard kindness—God disciplines those he loves—and a deeper promise that the King from of old never abandons his people.

We begin with the realism of Psalm 74, where consequences are not denied but named. Asaph doesn’t dispute God’s justice; he pleads for mercy and waits. That waiting becomes spiritual work: recognizing how sin tarnishes God’s reputation and renewing a desire to honor his name above our own. Psalm 75 then widens the lens to a global horizon. The boastful lift their horn, but God has appointed a day to judge with equity. The image of the cup—foaming, well mixed—captures the moral weight of divine justice. We connect that image to Gethsemane and the cross, where Jesus took the cup meant for us and drank it to the dregs, opening the way to forgiveness and the new covenant.

Finally, Psalm 76 brings history alive with the fall of Assyria at Jerusalem’s doorstep. God defends the humble, silences the proud, and proves that even human rebellion will, in the end, showcase his power and wisdom. The throughline is simple and steady: when symbols collapse, essentials remain—God is still God, and his final word is not ruin but redemption. If you’re living with consequences, this conversation offers clarity about discipline, courage for waiting, and deep comfort in Christ’s finished work.

If this encouraged you, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs hope today, and leave a quick review so others can find these messages. Your support helps us reach more listeners with wisdom and good news.

The first of Stephen's two volumes set through the Book of Revelation is now available. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FQ3XCJMY

Support the show

Share a comment

When life looks unfair and the loudest wins seem to go to the least deserving, it’s easy to slip into resentment. We sit with Asaph in Psalm 73 as he names those hard questions, then watch the hinge moment: stepping into God’s sanctuary and seeing everything—success, suffering, and the future—through a clearer lens. That shift doesn’t erase pain, but it reframes the story around destiny rather than optics.

We unpack how Asaph moves from envy to empathy by “considering their end,” recognizing that the apparent security of the wicked is a slippery surface that ends in sudden ruin. From there, the spotlight turns inward. Asaph confesses how bitterness shrank his vision and rediscovers what he actually has: God’s nearness, God’s guarding hand, and God’s wise counsel through Scripture. The line “afterward you will receive me to glory” becomes the anchor, contrasting terror with triumph and exposing why eternity changes how we measure a good life today.

The conversation grows practical and tender as we explore how worship reorders desire: “Whom have I in heaven but you?” We draw a vivid picture of daily reliance through Joni Eareckson Tada’s morning prayer—asking for Christ’s smile when her own is gone—and connect it to the way perspective renews stamina for ordinary routines. By the end, we emphasize nearness and witness: it is good to be near God, and from that refuge we tell of his works with humility and hope. If you’re tired of comparison, hungry for clarity, and ready to choose the long view, this journey through Psalm 73 will meet you where you are and lift your eyes toward glory.

If this encouraged you, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs perspective, and leave a rating or review so others can find it too.

The first of Stephen's two volumes set through the Book of Revelation is now available. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FQ3XCJMY

Support the show

Share a comment

A worship leader ready to resign, a heart full of envy, and a sanctuary that changes everything—Psalm 73 reads like a journal entry we were never supposed to see. We walk with Asaph as he watches the ungodly thrive in wealth, ease, health, and status, and he dares to ask the questions many of us hide: Why do those who ignore God seem to get the best of life? Does faithfulness really pay off when my road is rough and theirs looks smooth?

We set the scene for Book III of the Psalter and reintroduce Asaph, the Levite musician appointed by David, whose honesty cuts through clichés. He catalogs the tensions: prosperity without piety, blasphemy rewarded with applause, and the sting of daily conviction that makes godliness feel costly. Then comes the hinge. Rather than slip away, Asaph steps into the sanctuary of God. That move doesn’t magically fix circumstances, but it reframes them. Worship expands his horizon beyond snapshots to the whole story, reminding us that apparent success can sit on shaky ground and that discipline is a mercy, not a penalty.

Across the conversation, we explore how envy narrows vision, how public candor requires pastoral wisdom, and how sacred space—Scripture, gathered worship, quiet prayer—reorders what we value. The takeaway is both sturdy and hopeful: honesty belongs with God, perspective lives in his presence, and the path steadies when we trade comparison for communion. If you’ve felt the ache of unfairness or the pull to give up, you’ll find language for your struggle and a next step toward clarity.

If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs perspective, and leave a review so others can find these conversations.

The first of Stephen's two volumes set through the Book of Revelation is now available. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FQ3XCJMY

Support the show

Share a comment

When prayer is urgent and the clock seems cruel, what do we say, and how do we trust? We dive into Psalms 70–72 to explore the arc from “Make haste, O God” to gray-haired praise and a father’s blessing that outlives a crown. The journey begins with David’s short, desperate cry that proves sincerity matters more than length. It then widens into a lifetime of faith where dependence becomes a mission: telling God’s might to another generation. Finally, it lands in a royal prayer from David for Solomon, a blueprint for leadership marked by justice, compassion for the poor, and the refreshing gentleness of rain on mown grass.

We share two striking testimonies—one of sudden rescue after years of wandering, another of steady faith kept for six decades—to show how God both saves and keeps. Along the way, we challenge a quiet trend in many churches: the temptation for older believers to step back. Psalm 71 won’t let us retire from influence. Instead, it calls us to mentor, teach, and hand off not just tasks but a story of God’s faithfulness. We also reflect on the power of written blessings—letters to adult children that carry courage, clarity, and joy—because words can become a legacy that steadies hearts long after we’re gone.

This conversation blends biblical insight with practical steps: pray simply and honestly when life hits hard, cultivate rhythms that carry faith across decades, and speak life into the next generation with intentional, encouraging words. We close with the doxology that frames it all: “Blessed be God’s glorious name forever.” If you’re seeking guidance for urgent prayer, long obedience, or parenting and mentorship that leave a mark, you’ll find a path here. Listen, share with a friend who needs courage today, and if this encouraged you, subscribe and leave a review to help others find the show.

The first of Stephen's two volumes set through the Book of Revelation is now available. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FQ3XCJMY

Support the show

Share a comment

What if a single psalm could chart both the facts of Jesus’ suffering and the feelings he carried through it? We walk through Psalm 69 as more than David’s lament, uncovering how it points to the Messiah with surprising precision and deep compassion. From the “deep mire” image to the ache of being a stranger to his brothers, we connect Old Testament prophecy to New Testament fulfillment and to the realities many of us live today.

We explore the gritty heart of substitution: Jesus did not stumble into our mess; he stepped into it for us. Drawing on 1 Peter 2:24 and 2 Corinthians 5:21, we consider how the cross deals with every hidden thought and every public failure, and why this is not just a legal exchange but an emotional one. The rejection by his family becomes more than a historical note—it’s a source of comfort for anyone facing division at home, backed by Matthew 13, Mark 3, and John 7. We also trace “zeal for your house” to the temple cleansing, framing it as a Passover-level purification where Jesus removes the leaven of corruption and restores true worship.

Then we linger at the cross with the quiet line, “I thirst,” and the sour wine lifted on a hyssop branch. It’s a small detail loaded with meaning, signaling that nothing in God’s plan is accidental or unfinished. Finally, we look ahead to the promise that God will rebuild Zion and establish a kingdom for those who love his name. Loving his name means embracing his life, his suffering, his sacrifice, his resurrection, and his return—and letting that love shape our present obedience. Listen to be strengthened in your faith, sobered by the cost of grace, and renewed in hope for the kingdom that awaits.

If this conversation stirred your heart, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs courage today, and leave a review to help more listeners find these studies. What part of Psalm 69 struck you most?

The first of Stephen's two volumes set through the Book of Revelation is now available. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FQ3XCJMY

Support the show

Share a comment

Grief can feel like a closed room, but sometimes it opens into a song. We start with the tender story behind the hymn God Leads Us Along and trace its roots to Psalm 66, where the writer speaks of crushing burdens, fire, and water—and the God who leads through all of it. That lived theology takes shape in the life of evangelist George Young, whose new home was burned to the ground by an enemy, and whose response became a hymn that still steadies hearts a century later.

From there, we widen the lens. Psalm 67 invites the nations to sing for joy under a Judge who is fair and a Guide who directs peoples. We talk through a biblical timeline that points toward real hope: the church gathered to Christ, global evangelization in the face of darkness, a turning of Israel to the Messiah, and the establishment of a literal kingdom. This isn’t abstract optimism; it’s a map of where history is going, grounded in Scripture and anchored in the character of God.

Psalm 68 then supplies the power behind the promise. Enemies melt like wax before fire, the fatherless find a home, widows are protected, and the needy are sustained. Mount Zion rises as the future seat of the King, a concrete reminder that God’s care and God’s reign go hand in hand. Along the way, we keep returning to a simple, daily practice: Blessed be the Lord who daily bears us up. Whether you’re on the sunlit heights or in the darkest valley, this conversation pairs honest lament with sturdy hope and invites you to sing while you wait for the King.

If this encouraged you, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs hope today, and leave a review to help others find the journey.

The first of Stephen's two volumes set through the Book of Revelation is now available. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FQ3XCJMY

Support the show